Method and apparatus to backup data in a hard disk drive

Abstract

Making backups of active data stored in hard disk drive, by copying one or more disk surfaces within the hard disk drive. The hard disk drives implement the method. The hard disk drive may include more than two disk surfaces. Copying a second disk surface to a first disk surface may restore the first disk surface from the backup found on the second disk surface. The invention includes computer systems, which include at least one of these hard disk drives. The invention also includes removable storage systems, which include at least one of the hard disk drives.

1 . A method to backup a first disk surface to a second disk surface, both included in a hard disk drive, comprising the step of: 
 copying said first disk surface to said second disk surface.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step copying said first disk surface to said second disk surface, further comprises, for each of said logical track locations on said first disk surface, the steps of: 
 copying a track at said logical track location from said first disk surface to said logical track on said second disk surface.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step copying said first disk surface to said second disk surface further comprises the step of: 
 copying said first disk surface to said second disk surface, when said disk-command is said backup-purpose.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of: copying said second disk surface to said first disk surface, when said disk-command is a restore-purpose.  
   
   
       5 . Said hard disk drive of  claim 1 , comprising: means for backup of said first disk surface to said second disk surface when said disk-command is said backup-purpose.  
   
   
       6 . Said hard disk drive of  claim 5 , wherein said means includes at least one of: a finite state machine, a computer, a program step residing in a memory accessibly coupled with said computer, and a program system including at least one of said program steps; 
 wherein said computer includes at least one instruction processor and at least one data processor; wherein each said data processors is directed by at least one of said instruction processors.    
   
   
       7 . Said hard disk drive of  claim 1 , comprising: a computer accessibly coupled with a memory and directed by a program system including program steps residing in said memory; 
 wherein said program system comprises the program steps of:    copying of said first disk surface to said second disk surface when said disk-command is said backup-purpose.    
   
   
       8 . Said hard disk drive of  claim 7 , wherein said memory includes at least one non-volatile memory location.  
   
   
       9 . The hard disk drive of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for setting said disk-command.  
   
   
       10 . The hard disk drive of  claim 9 , wherein said means for setting said disk-command includes at least one mechanical switch.  
   
   
       11 . The hard disk drive of  claim 9 , wherein said means for setting said disk-command includes at least one external cable socket.  
   
   
       12 . A computer system including at least one of said hard disk drives of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       13 . The computer system of  claim 12 , wherein said computer system includes at least one of a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a server, a database engine, a personal digital assistant, a handheld computer, and a simulation accelerator.  
   
   
       14 . The computer system of  claim 12 , further including a disk-setting cable coupled to an external cable socket included in said hard disk drive; wherein said disk-setting cable is used to at least partly set said disk-command.  
   
   
       15 . The computer system of  claim 14 , wherein said disk-setting cable is used to set said disk-command to at least said backup-purpose.  
   
   
       16 . A removable storage system including at least one of said hard disk drives of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       17 . Said removable storage system of  claim 16 , further including at least one means for communicating with a computing system via a physical transport.  
   
   
       18 . Said removable storage system, wherein said physical transport includes at least one of a wireless physical transport and a wireline physical transport.  
   
   
       19 . Said removable storage system of  claim 18 , wherein said wireless physical transport includes support for a Bluetooth interface.  
   
   
       20 . Said removable storage system of  claim 18 , wherein said wireless physical transport includes support for at least one of a PCMCIA interface and a Universal Serial Buss (USB) interface.  
   
   
       21 . A method of making said hard disk drive of  claim 7 , comprising the steps of: 
 installing said program system into said memory.    
   
   
       22 . The hard disk drive as the product of the process of  claim 21.